GRACELAND VISIT HAS BRODIE ALL SHOOK UP
HE was born in a time well after The King reigned.
But that has not stopped 22-year-old Brody Sinlay from practising Elvis Presley’s voice and moves since he could barely walk and talk.
The dedication to the hip swing and familiar timbre of Elvis has scored the young fan a dream trip to Graceland in Memphis as a VIVA Surfers Paradise Elvis competition winner.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said.
“I have watched (Elvis) videos since I was three years old, and I don’t think I ever looked back.
“My parents loved rock’n’roll dancing in Townsville and I guess that is what made me love dancing, and singing those kind of songs.
“I can’t wait to experience where he lived and what Graceland was all about.”
Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Michael Winlaw said 80,000 people visited the VIVA Surfers Paradise festival where 20 Elvis impersonators put their talents on the line.
“Across 10 days, more than 3000 international guests flew in from New Zealand and America,” Mr Winlaw said.
“In 10 days, we had 80,000 people attend which is more than our seasonal average of our school holiday trade.”
Last year, the festival injected $7.9 million into the local economy.
It seems that Elvis has not left the building.